The Downtown Knit Collective

Upcoming meetings - Everyone is welcome!

Skills Exchange Mini-Workshops
February 18, 2009 is our annual Skills Exchange meeting. We have invited guild members to present a knitting or crochet skill that can be taught in 15 minutes. Eight learning stations will be set up around the auditorium. Members who wish to participate will gather at a particular station, learn the skill presented and then move to the next station. It is a fun evening out, with many great skills being shared this year by the following DKC Members:

1.

Short Rows (Wrap & Turn) presented by Gloria Williams.

No supplies needed.

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2.

Weaving In Ends at Colour Changes presented by Mairi McKissock

Prepare a small Stocking Stitch Swatch: Cast On 15 stitches and work 4 rows. Leave the live stitches on the needle, ready to practice Weaving In Yarn Ends.
Bring a contrast colour of yarn.________________________________

Please bring a sample square of knit fabric (at least 4" square) + yarn and a contrasting colour the same weight for the band + a crochet hook 2 sizes smaller than the needles used to knit the square. (If you used a 4.5mm knitting needle to work the square, bring a size 3.5 or 3.7mm Crochet Hook).________________________________

4.

Continental Knitting (Working Yarn Held In Left Hand) presented by Dorene Jenner

Please bring knitting needles and a suitable weight of Yarn for the needle size.

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5.

Cabling Without A Cable Needle presented by Julia Bryant

Please Cast On 14 stitches and work 6 rows of the following rib: Right Side Facing: P2, K4, P2, K4, P2.(Wrong Side Rows: Knit the knits and Purl the purls). End with RS facing.Leave the live stitches on the needle, ready to practice Cabling Without A Cable Needle.________________________________

6.

Figure 8 Cast On For Toe-Up Socks presented by Maja Orlic

Please bring appropriate size Double Point OR Circular Needles and Self-Striping Sock Yarn or a variegated yarn with a long colour run.*Note: It is easier to identify the cast-on sides if the yarn colour codes itself.________________________________

7.

Cast On In Ribbing presented by Mary Pat McDonald

Please bring knitting needles and a suitable weight of Yarn for the needle size.

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8.

Fur Stitch presented by Robin Hunter

Please Cast On 20 stitches & work in Garter Stitch for 4 rows. Leave the live stitches on the needle, ready to practice the Fur Stitch.________________________________

Laura Chau
Laura Chau is a Toronto-based freelance knitwear designer, instructor, author of "Teach Yourself Visually Sock Knitting", and designer of the Cosmicpluto line of knitting patterns. Laura's designs have been featured in Alt Fiber: 25 Projects for Bamboo, Hemp and Soy by Shannon Okley, and in Knitty magazine.

Laura works and teaches at Lettuce Knit in Toronto and is a popular presence on Ravelry. In addition to knitting, Laura also crochets, spins, sews, weaves, and hand dyes yarn.

Laura Chau will be presenting a trunk show of her designs featured in "Teach Yourself Visually Sock Knitting" as well as her most popular garments and accessories from the Cosmicpluto line of knitting patterns. Laura will discuss her inspiration, her love of colours and shapes and the experience of writing her first knitting book.

Robin Melanson
Join us for an evening with Toronto knitwear designer and author Robin Melanson, who will discuss her career in the knitting industry. Robin will be including slides and samples in her presentation to the guild.

Guild members will recognize Robin Melanson's designs from recent issues of Vogue Knitting and Twist Collective online knitting magazine. Robin Melanson's designs can be viewed on Ravelry (username Blackthorn) and on Patternfish.com.

Robin Melanson is the author of Knitting New Mittens & Gloves (STC Craft, 2008). She is a freelance knitwear designer living in Toronto, Ontario. Robin's designs have been published in Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, Knitter's Magazine, and Knitscene, as well as by numerous yarn companies. Robin created custom knitwear for the stage productions of Mary Poppins (New Amsterdam Theatre, New York) and The Lord of the Rings (Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto). Her designs also appear in Handknit Holidays (STC Craft, 2005), Color Style (Interweave Press, 2008), Folk Style (Interweave Press, 2007), and Wrap Style (Interweave Press, 2005).